Vitamin D deficiency - again!
11th February 2010
This blog post is also downloadable as a Word format handout. The cover picture on January 16th's British Medical Journal is of a blazing sun with the words "Vitamin D deficiency" underneath it. Inside there is a major review by Pearce and Cheetham entitled "Diagnosis and management of vitamin D …
Exercise 6: where can I do what?
8th February 2010
Last month I blogged about exercise safety in "Exercise 1: checking it's safe to start", about the helpful GPPAQ - General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire - described in "Exercise 2: UK Department of Health, resources for assessment & advice", about the excellent advice on how to exercise in "Exercise 3: …
Recent research: articles from January journals
4th February 2010
I read a lot of research. When I find an article of particular interest I download it to my bibliographic database - EndNote - which currently contains nearly 14,000 abstracts. Every few weeks I scan through all the articles I've found interesting in the previous month (in the general areas …
Exercise 5: the recommendation to do strengthening exercises
1st February 2010
This post is also downloadable as a Word format handout. I blogged a couple of weeks ago on "Exercise 3: US Department of Health & Human Services, resources for assessment & advice" and quoted the fine 2008 "Physical activity guidelines for Americans" with its recommendation that - besides regular aerobic …
SIGN guidance on non-pharmaceutical management of depression
28th January 2010
The Scottish Intecollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) published their guidance on "Non-pharmaceutical management of depression" today. SIGN comment: "Depression Alliance Scotland proposed the development of this guideline based on feedback from service users who were seeking information about interventions other than prescribed antidepressants which could be helpful in managing their depression. …
Exercise 4: pedometers can help us walk more
25th January 2010
This blog post is downloadable as a Word format handout Earlier this month, I blogged about exercise safety in "Exercise 1: checking it's safe to start" , about the helpful GPPAQ - General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire - described in "Exercise 2: UK Department of Health, resources for assessment & …
Writing (& speaking) for resilience & wellbeing 3: personal growth
24th January 2010
They taught me more about, in the midst of all this trauma and suffering and uncertainty - of remaining true to who you are, and what love can be about in those moments. And there are three or four of those that really stand out very strongly, whose lives were …
Different kinds of group, different kinds of friendship
19th January 2010
I'm a member of three different groups, all of which meet occasionally in the evening. Since two of the groups only get together about every six weeks, it's unusual for all three group meetings to occur in the same seven days. In fact I can't remember it happening before. It's …
Exercise 3: US Department of Health & Human Services, resources for assessment & advice
18th January 2010
Last week I wrote about the helpful GPPAQ exercise screening questionnaire in "Exercise 2: UK Department of Health, resources for assessment & advice". This week I'd like to go "over the pond" to visit the excellent advice on exercise provided by the US government. One of the most useful resources …
Writing (& speaking) for resilience & wellbeing 2: traumas & difficulties
17th January 2010
Fear is the mind-killer ... I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. …